Remote control pilot valve



23, 1932- D. H. ANNIN 1,872,871-

REMOTE CONTROL PILOT VALVE -Filed Feb. 12, 1929 3 Shegts-Sheet l YINVENTOR Joujla 5H 72in,

A TTORNEYJ.

v Aug; 23, 1932. n H, ANNlN 1,872,871 I REMOTE CONTROL PILOT VAL VIE Filed Feb. 12, 1929 SSheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

\ bl zmfiwmin BY: M M

I ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 23, 1932. D. H. ANNIN REMOTE CONTROL PILOT VALVE Filed Feb. 12,1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 War-m allicvel INVENTOR: jolfyzas fiznz'n,

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Aug. 23, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT: orrlca DOUGLAS H. AITNIN,OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA; AS SIGNOR, BY ASSIGNMENTS, TO NEW (30., LTD 0]?BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MESA- CHUSETTS REMOTE OONTBOLPILOT VALVE This invention relates to means for automaticallycontrolling the flow of a substance through a pipe line and refersparticularly to improvements in a pilot controller form- I ing part ofsuch pipe line controlling system.

The general object of my invention is the provision of a perfectlybalanced'pilot controller. In control systems of the type hereconsidered, it is common practice to cut a diaphragm motor valve intothe pipe line to be controlled and to employ an actuating medium, suchas compressed air, tooperate this valve. In the pipe line conveying suchactuating medium are placed pilot control valves, the operation of whichusually is governed .by the substance undercontrol. More particularly myobject is to provide means with m such control system, wherebyvariations of the following description, a structure embodying theinvention is illustrated-in the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved pilot controller mounted upona float chamber and connected to operate a main control valve, Fig. 2 isan end elevation substantially in agreement with Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal section of the pilot controller takensubstantially on a line 33 of Fig. 2, i Fig. 4 is a cross sectional viewtaken on line 4-4:,of F ig.- 3,

Fig. Eris a side elevation of the device showing certain modificationswhich will hereinafter be fully described,

Fig. 6 is an end elevation substantially in agreement with Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7- 7 .of Fig. '5,

Fig, 8 is a detail view of certain connections hereinafter furtherreferred to, and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing my invention in relation to a tankor reservoir and connected-to control the liquid level the letter Adesignates a reservoir, the letter B a pipe line extending into thisreservoir,

and the letter C a float chamber communicating with the reservoir. Thepipe line Bis shown controlled by a diaphragm motor valve D. Within thefloat chambershown a float E, and the arm of this floatv is mounted on ashaft 10, whichlatter in turn isjournaled in a bearing 11 of anextension of the float chamber, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

The pilot controller of iny invention is designated by the letters F andG to comprise a by screws 15. A diaphragm 14 is shown seated betweenthese two casings. The casing 13 is shown *fastenedto a bracket 20,extending of bolts 21. The diaphragm 14 divides the controller into aspring chamber and a valve chamber.

The. latter communicates, through a pipe 22,

with the diaphragm motor valve D, and it is madewith an ingress port'23and an egress port24 for controlling the flow of a suitable actuatingmedium through the pipe 22 to the diaphragm motor valve. As indicated inFig. 7, the cross sectional outline of the pilot controller resembles afigure eight and, as

from the float chamber, by means pair of casings 12 and 13, clampedtogether the diaphragm 14 is clamped between the two parts of thecontroller casing, it follows, that this diaphragm is similarly shaped.The center portion of the diaphragm is'shown clamped rigidly in positionby ineans of a member 28. In this manner two independent, circulardiaphragms 18 and 19 are provided.

Onthe diaphragm is is shown mounted a valve 29, through the medium ofspaced rods I diaphragms are moved; as will be described presently, toopen and close the valves 29 and 30 for the purpose of controlling theflow of the actuating medium to the diaphragm motor valve. Theingressvalve is shown 1 are concentrically mounted a pair of compressionsprings 41 and 42, between circular.

flanges 43, 44 and 43 44 respectively. The flan 43 and 44 are shownmounted. on.

Y stems 45,46, slidable in the wall of the casing.

plunger 56 is seated to'slide in thedividmg wall between the springchambers, and

its outer end, 48, is guided in a cover H of: the casing. This plungercarries a-yoke 49, in

the ve of which are seated pins 51 of .15 a pair of arms 52, 53, theouter ends ofwhich.

are journaled at 54 and 55. When the yoke is pushed inwardly, it-is seenthat the arms.

are caused to force the stems 45, 46 inwardly, thereby to compress thesprings 41, 42. The plunger-.48 is, through the medium of a link andanarm 61, connected for operation by the shaft 10 of the float 1 Asshown in Fig. 9, the liquid level within the reservoir is below normal.The float E,

has dropped correspondingly, thereby causing the arm 61 to swing towardsthe pilot controller, to force the plunger 48 inwardly,

. resulting in a compression of the rings. The pressure of these springsurges a ection of the diaphragms towards the valve cham-. ber, causingthe valve 29 to open, against the tension of its spring 40, at the sametime maintaining the valve 30 closed. The actuating medium now is freeto pas through the valve chamber and the pipe line 22 to the diaphragmchamber ofthe diaphragm motor valve, causing the valve head 25 of thelatter to open and to'permit liquid to pass into the reservoir. Theliquid level now commences to rise, causing the float to risecorrespondingly and gradually to release the tension on the springs 41,42. At the same time pressure as gradually "chamber, and this pressureis exerted against the diaphragms to. oppose the' pressure of the p Thecontinued rise of the float results in asuflicient reduction of-thespring pressure.

to flex he diaphragms in the opposite direction, and thereby to closethe ingress valve and tozopen the egress valve 30. .As the lattercommunicates with the atmosphere, it is seen, that this pressure withinthe valve chamher and within the dia hragm chamber of the diaphragmmotor va ve quickly is relieved, the latter to close gradually, therebyto check the flow into the reservoir.

Pilot valves connected for direct operation.

b a float are well known in the art, and w e theoretically satisfactory,do not operate very efliciently in practice, due to the lost motionpresent in the connections 'from the float to the valves. By introducingthe springs 41, 42, it is readily seen, that the pressure of thesesprings operates to take up ped to provide two cylindrical chambers 16and 17, within which amount of the ,actuatin "counterbalance the floatand its arm.

built up within the valve ravaen an lost motion that may occur, with there-' suit that the slightest movement of the float instantly anddirectly is communicated through the springs and the diaphragms totheftwo pilot valves. The device is so sensitive, that the position ofthe pilot valves normally remains substantially constant, necessitatmgthe consumption of but a very sinall springs 41, 42, in functiomng toabsorb vibrations and shocks, due to lostmotion and 'the like, tend, toeliminate objectionable noises and to create a very silently operatingdevice.' Through the medium of s'crew caps 57, 58 and lock nuts 59, 60-,of the stems 45, 46, the springs may be adjusted to the presmedium. The

sure of the actuating medium, permitting the device to operate at anyprewure ordinarily employed.

The valves 29, 30 may conveniently beguided in the casing, and this may.be accomlished, in the case of the valve 29, by forming-it with a stem27 seated to slide. in a .cap 38'. From the valve 30 extends a pair ofrods, similar to the rods, .33, to

support a yoke terminating in astem 37, and

this stern is fitted to slide in aservice cap 39. On the float levershaft 10 is shown mounted an arm 67, on which a weight 66 is adjustablysecured. This, weight serlves to y referring to Fig. 8, it is noticedthat the .arm

61 carries an adjustable'member 63, to which the connecting link 65 isivotally attached. A very small movement 0 the fulcrum member, on thearm 61, has a decided influence on the sensitiveness of the device.

While, in Figs. 1 and 2, the pilot controller is shown mounted above thecenter of the float lever fulcrum, it is noticed that, in Figs. 5 and 6,the controller takes a symmetrical position below this fulcrum, Inthefirst case the device is fitted to control the flow into a reservoir,in the latter, to control the-flow from the reservoir. The parts may, ineither case,all remain the same. The only diflerence in assembling thedevice, in addition to the relocation of the ilot controller, is thatthe arm 61 is taken 0; the shaft 10 and reversed before it is put back:

-- While in the drawings I have shown the pilot controller connected foroperation by a float mechanism, in response to liquid level variationswithin a reservoir, I wish it understood, that the device of myinvention may be used in connection with other means controlled bypressure, flow, tem' erature or the like to control the flow throng J apipe line.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

1. A'pilot controller comprising, a casing,

a'pair of diaphfragms-dividing said casing into a chamber for thepassage of an actuatmg fluld to a diaphragm v alve ,.controlling thefluid in a reservoir and a spring balance chamber, valves on saiddiaphragms control ling ingress and egress ducts of said first namedchamber, springs in said spring balance chamber for exerting pressureagainst said diaphragms to open said ingress and close said egress duct,and means operable by the fluid in said reservoir to adjust the tensionof said springs.

2. The combination with a diaphragm valve for controlling the fluidwithin a reservoir, of a pilot controller having ingress and egressducts for'an actuating fluid and provided with a passage forsaidactuating fluid to the said diaphragm valve, a pair of diaphragms insaid controller, valves operv able by said diaphragms to control saidducts,

resilient means for exerting pressure againstsaid diaphragms to opensaid ingress and close said e ress ducts, and means actuated by thefluid within said reservoir for adjusting the tension of said resilientmeans.

3. The combination with a reservoir and a diaphragm yalve forcontrolling the fluid of said reservoir, of a pilot controller havingingress and egress ducts for an actuating fluid and a passage for saidfluid to the said diaphragm valve, a pair of diaphragms in thecontroller, valves operable by said diaphragms to control said ducts,springs for moving said diaphragms to open the ingress and close theegress ducts, mean controlled by the reservoir fluid to adjust thetension of said springs, and resilient means yieldingly opposing theopening of said ingress duct.

4. The combination with a float chamber and a diaphragm valve forcontrolling a fluid in said chamber, of a pilot controller havingingress and egress ducts for an actuating fluid and provided with apassage for said fluid to said diaphragm valve, valves controlling saidingress and egress ducts, diaphragms for operating said valves, springspressing against said diaphragms to open said ingress and close saidegress ducts, and a float in said chamber connected to adjust thetension of said springs relative to the fluid level within the chamber.

5. The combination with a float pivotally hung in a float chamber and adiaphragm valve for controlling the fluid level of sa d chamber, of a'ilot controller for passing an actuating flu1d to said pilot valve,valves for controlling ingress and egress ducts of said pilotcontroller, springs for exerting pressure againstsaid valves to o n andclose said ducts, and levers operative yconnecting the pivot of saidfloat with the said springs for the purpose of adjusting the tension ofsaid sprlngs roportionate to the fluid level within said oat chamber.

.6. The combination with a float chamber and a diaphra m valveforcontrolling the fluid level in said chamber, of a pilot controllerfor passing an actuating fluid to said dia-' phragm valve, valves forcontrolling ingress and egress ducts of said pilot controller, and meansoperable by a float insaid chamber yieldingly to press against saidvalves for the purpose of controlling the opening and closing (i saidingress and egress ducts.

7. The combination with a float chamber and a diaphragm valve forcontrolling the fluid level in said chamber, of a ilot controller forpassing an actuating fluid to said diaphragm valve, valves ,forcontrolling ingress and egress ducts of said pilot controller, meansoperable by a float of said chamber yieldingly to press against saidvalves to control the opening and closing of said ducts, and meanscounterbalancing said float.

8. In a pilot controller, the combination with'the float lever of afloat chamber, of valves for controlling ingress and egress I ducts forthe passage of an actuating fluid, resilient means for operating saidvalves in opposition to the force exerted by said actuating fluid,levers operatively connecting said float with" the said resilient meansfor the purpose of adjusting the latter relative to the movement of afloat, and means for adjusting. the throw of said levers relative to,the movement of the float.

'9. The combination with a dia hra m valve for controlling the flowthroug a plpe line, of a pilot controller having ingress and egressducts for an actuating medium and provided with a passage for saidmedium to the said diaphragm valve, a pair of diaphragms in saidcontroller, valves operable by said diaphragms to control said ducts,re.- silient means for exerting pressure against said'diaphragms to opensaid'ingress and close said egress ducts, and means actuated byvariations in the substance-under control for. adjusting the tensionofsaid resilient means.

10. A pilot controller comprising, a cas- I .dia hragms to open saidingress and close sai egress ducts, and means operable by variations inthe substance under control to adjust the tension of said springs.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specifieatio DOUGLASH. ANNIN.

